
Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Richard Sakwa: The Deep Roots of the Ukraine War
Jan 18, 2026
Richard Sakwa, a leading scholar on Russia and professor at the University of Kent, delves into the multifaceted origins of the Ukraine War. He presents four key layers underpinning the conflict, from internal dynamics in Ukraine to global power shifts. Sakwa discusses the mimetic rivalry between Russia and Ukraine, the implications of decolonial narratives, and the challenges of postwar European stability. He also highlights the impact of NATO's role and the need for new thinking in international relations, expressing cautious optimism for future diplomacy.
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Stalled Peace Plans And Moscow's Skepticism
- Sakwa recounts the 28‑point peace plan and subsequent 20‑point plan that Moscow finds unacceptable.
- He recalls Witkoff and Jared Kushner planning to visit Moscow amid Russian skepticism about circular diplomacy.
Cold War Settlement Left A Divided Europe
- The European post‑war settlement failed to create genuine pan‑continental unity and left an Atlanticist order.
- Sakwa links NATO enlargement and marginalizing Russia to the security dilemma that contributed to the war.
Superpower Relations Shape Outcomes
- US–Russia superpower relations form a fourth layer; shifts there shape Europe's options.
- Sakwa sees Trump-era volatility as raising old questions but offering no coherent framework for settlement.




